Volvo Ocean Race - Puma Ocean Racing leads the charge to Cape Town

by Amory Ross on 14 Nov 2011 Volvo Ocean Race is on the ninth day of racing for leg one. Amory Ross, MCM, onboard Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg reports on the crew's progress:

Yesterday might just have been my most unproductive day ever. After a really busy morning of work down below, I finally grabbed my camera, threw on the foulies, and sprinted up the companionway for the first time. It was maybe 12:30. I honestly don’t think I took a single picture or recorded any video for three hours. I literally just stood there at the back of the boat, enjoying every second of my very first VO70 downwind ride.

We were averaging 23 knots, which means that in the lulls we were still probably sailing at 19. I saw 28 once and frequent 27’s. Are you serious? How can it possibly get better? Sadly enough, to the 10 other guys on the boat, 27 knots is pretty standard. By the end of the next couple days I am betting I will feel a tinge of the same nonchalance, but I can’t wait to be impressed again.

As you might have gathered, we are absolutely trucking south. Each new sched brings good progress on Groupama far to the east, and we’ve been ever-so-slowly edging out on Telefónica and Camper to our north. But it’s a dangerous game, being the lead dog, as we’re the ones to encounter new weather first. Unfortunately, in this case, that new weather is what we all call the Doldrums, and it’s a land of fickle wind. So while we’re happy going fast and leading the charge to Cape Town, everyone’s aware that in a few days time this ride comes to an end. It’s still anyone’s guess as to what happens then!

Puma Ocean Racing website